Exodus to Zeta-9

The Last Stand

The stars were an empty canvas as the Terran fleet, with the last remnants of humanity aboard, shot into FTL space. The pulse of jump drives, a flicker in the void, was their final escape route. Humanity's last survivors—civilians, soldiers, families—had made the impossible leap to the far reaches of the galaxy, with Zeta-9 as their only hope.

But in the shadows of the void, the Kran fleet remained, unrelenting, determined to finish the job.

A Moment of Calm

In the cockpit of his Wraith-Class Corvette, Major Nathan Vale stared out into the abyss. For a brief moment, there was silence—a brief lull in the chaos of war. He exhaled deeply, his hands steady on the controls as the aftershock of battle settled in. The Wraith-Class Corvette was the perfect vessel for the desperate task ahead, agile and deadly, its sleek silhouette a predator in the void.

The TH-1 Variant, an elite spec-ops warship, was built for rapid response. Its design focused on maneuverability and hit-and-run engagements—perfect for this final stand. The forward section of the ship housed the four-person crew compartment, each crew member specialized for their role in this life-or-death battle. The ship's mid-section housed a Spec-Ops deployment bay capable of delivering six elite soldiers into zero-gravity environments for quick boarding or sabotage operations.

"Status report," Vale said, his voice calm but laced with the grim reality of their situation.

"Acknowledged," Aegis responded from the ship's AI interface. "Kran fleet is recalculating tactics. They will be in range in approximately thirty minutes."

Vale nodded, already thinking ahead. "How many ships do we have left in our battlegroup?"

Aegis paused for a moment, its voice taking on a matter-of-fact tone. "Eighty-three vessels remain. The majority are stealth corvettes, with minimal firepower. Our focus should be on delaying the Kran advance long enough for the Terran fleet to reach Zeta-9."

"I don't need to hear the odds, Aegis," Vale said quietly, looking down at the scarred control panel in front of him. "Just get me what we need to fight."

"Understood."

The Tactical Retreat

Back on the Resolute, Admiral Vaughn's face was drawn tight with exhaustion, his command bridge an utter mess. Officers worked frantically, communicating with the remaining ships as they made their way deeper into FTL space.

"How long until we hit Zeta-9?" Vaughn demanded, his eyes never leaving the flickering holo-map of their fleet's movements.

"At the current speed, we'll be there in twelve hours, sir," a tactical officer replied. "However, the Kran fleet is closing in on Vale's position. They're preparing to intercept us."

Vaughn cursed under his breath. "We can't outrun them."

"We might not need to," came a voice from the rear of the room.

General Sinclair stepped forward, his face as grim as ever. He reached for the tactical controls, his eyes scanning the holographic display of their current location.

"Send a message to Major Vale," Sinclair said, his fingers flying over the controls. "Tell him we're preparing for a coordinated strike. We'll provide support. We need him to buy us enough time to finish the jump to Zeta-9."

"Affirmative, sir."

The message went out, silent but filled with desperate urgency. The only question now was whether it would reach Vale in time.

The Final Battle

Vale and his team had been given their orders—hold the line. With no way to escape, they would fight with everything they had. His battlegroup was the last line of defense, and the Kran would have to go through them if they wanted to finish what they started.

"Deploy all stealth corvettes," Vale ordered. "We'll make them think we're running. Let's set a trap."

"Understood," Aegis replied. "Stealth systems engaged. Initiating decoy protocols."

Vale watched as the last remaining ships in their fleet moved into position, the stealth corvettes scattering in different directions. A smokescreen of misdirection, designed to confuse the Kran and lure them into range of the remaining heavy hitters. The Wraith-Class Corvette TH-1 Variant, with its superior design, was uniquely equipped for this kind of operation.

The TH-1 "Thor's Hammer" rail cannon was the ship's signature weapon. Powered directly from ARC Banks, it had the capacity to fire devastating kinetic rounds capable of piercing even the toughest of enemy armor. To complement this, the ship's ARC Banks and Power Distribution system provided rapid-fire and precision strikes, supercharged capacitors that were vital in a battle this fierce.

"Let's give them a reason to think we're on the run," Vale said, his eyes narrowing as the first Kran ships appeared on their scanners, closing in fast.

The Kran were relentless, their warships a nightmare of jagged, organic shapes, their hulls fused with the essence of their race. A grotesque blend of biology and technology, they had the power to obliterate anything in their path. Yet, Vale had seen them adapt time and time again. He knew they would come prepared for his tricks. But he also knew that their arrogance might just be their undoing.

The Wraith-Class Corvette was an agile hunter in the vastness of space. With its superconductive power conduits running along the ship's spine, linking weaponry, shields, and propulsion, the ship was an efficient, lethal machine. The ship's stealth composite hull also provided a distinct advantage, designed to deflect active scans and nullify electromagnetic signatures. It was nearly impossible for the Kran to track the corvettes in real-time, a key advantage when outmatched.

The trap was set.

Impact

The first wave of Kran ships opened fire. The soundless screams of energy lances sliced through space, tearing apart the emptiness. Vale's team weaved and darted, evading the worst of the fire, but it was clear—this would be no easy fight.

The Kran closed in, determined to eradicate the last pockets of resistance.

And then, from the depths of the darkness, the first Nyx-2 warheads screamed into the fray.

The AI-driven kinetic missiles hit their marks, streaking through the void before the Kran ships even realized what had happened. The lead Dreadnought shook as an explosion ripped through its side, its adaptive armor failing to defend against the devastating force. The shockwave reverberated through the battlefield, as one Kran vessel after another was struck with deadly accuracy.

"Keep them coming, Aegis!" Vale shouted, his pulse quickening with adrenaline as he watched the Kran fleet begin to falter.

But the Kran were not finished.

"More incoming," Aegis warned. "They're adjusting their tactics. They're focusing fire on your position, Major."

"We're just getting started," Vale growled, his fingers flying across the controls. "Prepare for phase two."

The final battle had begun. And though their survival was far from assured, Major Nathan Vale and his team would not go down without a fight.